Visual Trigger

“One, two, three, smile!” shouted mother. Jia Yu was as stiff as a stone at the opposite of mother, holding her hand up with a victory hand sign.

“Your favorite hazelnut ice cream,” father said as he walked towards the 7 years old.

“Yeah!” yelled Jia Yu. She hadn’t been able to enjoy her favorite ice cream for ages since she was down with fever. She practically swallowed the ice cream in a minute while they strolled towards a sheltered area. She was feeling better lately and thus her parents agreed to bring her outfor fresh air. After 10 minutes, Jia Yu was walking unsteady, almost falling down a few times. Her parents worried as perspiration cascade down the side of their pale faces. Father managed to hold Jia Yu’s hand beore she almost fell down again. He held her in his arms and the started to walk to the nearby polyclinic.

After waiting for a long time, it was finally Jia Yu’s turn for consultation. The couple walked in with heavy footsteps, Jia Yu in her father’s arms. The doctor started to examine her, crossing his eyebrows when he was done and faced the worried parents. The room suddenly became colder with anxiety as the doctor started talking.

“Your daughter, there is something wrong with her. I suggest that you admit her into the hospital as soon as possible. I cannot find out what exactly is the problem due to the lack of equipment.” The doctor gave out a long sigh.

The parents opened their mouth in astonishment together without cues.

The day after, Jia Yu laid on her ward bed, with her extremely pale complexion. The room was tranquil with no one speaking. Mother and father sat down, each a side at Jia Yu’s sick bed. Mother occasionally helped to pull the blankets up for Jia Yu while father gazed at his innocent little daughter for the longest period , refusing even to blink. He was frighten that once he blinked, everything would not be the same anymore. Jia Yu’s eyelids fluttered and opened. Seeing the worried looks on her parents’ faces, she started to speak weakly,” Mummy, daddy, don’t worry Jia Yu is okay.” She tried her best smile but to no avail.

Mother stroked her forehead and said in a gentle voice, ”of course Jia Yu is okays.”

“Creak…”,the door opened and a friendly looking nurse walked in. In her soft hands, se held a report revealing that Jia Yu is diagnosed with cancer. It was proven to be hereditary. Receiving the report from the nurse’s hands, mother couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Why her?” She question herself repeat in her confused mind and faced the wall with guilt gnawing at her. She had cancer when she was
young, about ten years age but she didn’t know that it was hereditary. It was a torment, those ill-fated days. She didn’t want her daughter to suffer the way way that she did but she is not a god and didn’t have a choice.

“What happened, mummy?” Jia Yu spoked cheerfully but with a hint of exhaust. Mother broke the news to her in tears, hugging her little ill fated child. Jia Yu stroked her mother’s soft black hair gently.

“Mummy, you said Jia Yu is okays and Jia Yu will be fine.” Jia Yu tried to console her mother.

Days of misery seemed to crawl by but Jia Yu’s laughter seemed to flood the hospital though chemotherapy reduced her hair into nothingness. She began to live a life more meaningful than any other child on this earth. She twisted her fate with her cheerful nature and spread happiness to everyone who stepped into her life. She went for all treatments and therapy. Her determination surpassing a large number of ill willed adults. In her spare time, she studied just like any other child. She knows that all parents on earth hoped for their child to succeed in life. Her parents were nonetheless proud of her. Who wouldn’t?

Years passed without a trace, Jia Yu’s health began to regain slowly. Her physical strength came back eventually. Her mental strength never demolished.

“Yeah!” she stood on the pavement bidding good byes to all the nurses that took care of her three years after her first long stay in the hospital. Giving the brightest smile that anyone would have died for, she climbed onto her father’s car and they left the hospital in smiles.